Matthew Coates
@coatesmatthew.bsky.social
Visiting Professor in Philosophy (PPEL), Bowling Green State University, Ohio | Birdwatcher | Burnley supporter, Up the Clarets!
matthewncoates.github.io
matthewncoates.github.io
Pinned
Matthew Coates
@coatesmatthew.bsky.social
· Nov 18
Does it Harm Science to Suppress Dissenting Evidence? | Philosophy of Science | Cambridge Core
Does it Harm Science to Suppress Dissenting Evidence?
www.cambridge.org
If anyone is interested in reading the work I presented at both PPE and #PSA24 conferences they can be found below. Firstly, my work on modeling Hiding Dissent that I presented at the PPE society has now just been published online in Philosophy of Science!
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Matthew Coates
Been saying this for years (Then again, did live in Oxford for years...).
Everyone forgets those lovely Victorian buildings next to those equally lovely Georgian ones were a modern eyesore once & made conservative victorians spit with rage. Ditto the Georgian ones next to the Tudor ones &c &c
Everyone forgets those lovely Victorian buildings next to those equally lovely Georgian ones were a modern eyesore once & made conservative victorians spit with rage. Ditto the Georgian ones next to the Tudor ones &c &c
okay at this point I’m just procrastinating BUT! This is one of my favourite topics because! At some point, in probably about a century, ppl are gonna look at those brutalist council housing blocks that survive and think they’re lovely/aesthetic/whatever. How do I know?
Jericho.
Jericho.
I've never been to Oxford, but I always enjoyed Bill Bryson's comment that it's like at some point in the 60s the Council went "You know what? We've been putting up handsome buildings for 600 years. Let's have some ugly ones for a change."
February 17, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Been saying this for years (Then again, did live in Oxford for years...).
Everyone forgets those lovely Victorian buildings next to those equally lovely Georgian ones were a modern eyesore once & made conservative victorians spit with rage. Ditto the Georgian ones next to the Tudor ones &c &c
Everyone forgets those lovely Victorian buildings next to those equally lovely Georgian ones were a modern eyesore once & made conservative victorians spit with rage. Ditto the Georgian ones next to the Tudor ones &c &c
Reposted by Matthew Coates
I am a pro-AI guy who often gets pigeonholed as an anti-AI guy. I am pro developing and using AI for things AI is good at. I am anti developing and using AI for things that will bring on another AI winter, a mild economic collapse, and make us all look like schmucks in ~5 years.
February 17, 2026 at 3:34 AM
I am a pro-AI guy who often gets pigeonholed as an anti-AI guy. I am pro developing and using AI for things AI is good at. I am anti developing and using AI for things that will bring on another AI winter, a mild economic collapse, and make us all look like schmucks in ~5 years.
Reposted by Matthew Coates
As Ronald Reagan said, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and have you considered bobsleigh."
really enjoy that the bloke who won two golds on the luge is someone who was a national level taekwondo fighter until he got injured and then a government figure stepped out the shadows and said "let me tell you about project going down a hill really fast"
February 16, 2026 at 1:43 PM
As Ronald Reagan said, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and have you considered bobsleigh."
Reposted by Matthew Coates
Incredible thread about carnivore brain morphology. Also includes pic of raccoon doing Tiny Jazz Hands.
1/9 Comparison of carnivore brains beyond brain size
They compared the brains of 26 carnivore species (including canids, felids, and ursids, among others) using magnetic resonance imaging.
(paper) elifesciences.org/articles/100...
They compared the brains of 26 carnivore species (including canids, felids, and ursids, among others) using magnetic resonance imaging.
(paper) elifesciences.org/articles/100...
February 16, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Incredible thread about carnivore brain morphology. Also includes pic of raccoon doing Tiny Jazz Hands.
Reposted by Matthew Coates
Ah, i was offended because “kids are sponges and they come out with stuff like this all the time” scepticism is very bad and stupid; a lot of Americans are offended because they read it literally
February 14, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Ah, i was offended because “kids are sponges and they come out with stuff like this all the time” scepticism is very bad and stupid; a lot of Americans are offended because they read it literally
I never liked football anyway
FA Cup: Burnley 1-2 Mansfield Town
League One side Mansfield Town come from behind to beat Premier League strugglers Burnley and reach the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1975.
www.bbc.com
February 14, 2026 at 5:42 PM
I never liked football anyway
Could have been worse, one of the candidates could have gotten out a guitar and started playing Wonderwall
February 13, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Could have been worse, one of the candidates could have gotten out a guitar and started playing Wonderwall
Reposted by Matthew Coates
it's funny following this discourse while being on the philosophy job market and hence being aware of just how many jobs every year are specifically earmarked for conservatives
Maybe it’s just because I’m in PPE circles where these are prominent, but the basic premise doesn’t even make sense. There are loads of right wing (be it libertarian or conservative) funding bodies for the humanities and social sciences already. Things like IHS and Mercatus on the libertarian side
The Atlantic is indistinguishable from Compact.
February 13, 2026 at 3:53 PM
it's funny following this discourse while being on the philosophy job market and hence being aware of just how many jobs every year are specifically earmarked for conservatives
Maybe it’s just because I’m in PPE circles where these are prominent, but the basic premise doesn’t even make sense. There are loads of right wing (be it libertarian or conservative) funding bodies for the humanities and social sciences already. Things like IHS and Mercatus on the libertarian side
February 13, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Maybe it’s just because I’m in PPE circles where these are prominent, but the basic premise doesn’t even make sense. There are loads of right wing (be it libertarian or conservative) funding bodies for the humanities and social sciences already. Things like IHS and Mercatus on the libertarian side
Reposted by Matthew Coates
Key stakeholders
February 12, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Key stakeholders
Reposted by Matthew Coates
God this guy rules
At the age of 58, I’ve bought my first drill. Can it make me a new man? | Adrian Chiles
At the age of 58, I’ve bought my first drill. Can it make me a new man? | Adrian Chiles
Bored with my DIY hopelessness, I’ve decided it’s time I learned some basics, writes Adrian Charles
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:16 PM
God this guy rules
Reposted by Matthew Coates
its interesting (derogatory) that every time amanda askell gets talked about on this website the thinly veiled misogyny comes out in force
February 11, 2026 at 10:38 PM
its interesting (derogatory) that every time amanda askell gets talked about on this website the thinly veiled misogyny comes out in force
Reposted by Matthew Coates
Just want to point out as well that SF has quite possibly the best anti-fare dodging ad campaign based on their baseball team’s fiercest rivals being the Dodgers.
February 11, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Just want to point out as well that SF has quite possibly the best anti-fare dodging ad campaign based on their baseball team’s fiercest rivals being the Dodgers.
The amount of second hand cringe I currently have from that "AGI is coming" advert is off the charts
February 9, 2026 at 3:00 AM
The amount of second hand cringe I currently have from that "AGI is coming" advert is off the charts
Reposted by Matthew Coates
It is terribly sad that the former PM feels the need to say this in the face of low life blowhards.
We cannot allow this to even be a question.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
We cannot allow this to even be a question.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
‘I’m British, English and British Asian’, says Rishi Sunak in riposte to racially charged debate over identity
Podcaster claimed former prime minister not English because he is ‘brown-skinned Hindu’
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:06 AM
It is terribly sad that the former PM feels the need to say this in the face of low life blowhards.
We cannot allow this to even be a question.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
We cannot allow this to even be a question.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Matthew Coates
🚨 Attention! DO NOT confuse the archaic hominin species Denisovans with the darts player Denis Ovens!
February 4, 2026 at 4:42 PM
🚨 Attention! DO NOT confuse the archaic hominin species Denisovans with the darts player Denis Ovens!
Reposted by Matthew Coates
In a thousand years, people will assume "George Osborne" was some sort of mythic person, honourary role, or qualification that was considered for, or made you elligible for, every senior job in early 21st century Britain.
Dismissing Katen Pierce was also a poor decision by Starmer. They do keep piling up.
February 4, 2026 at 1:41 PM
In a thousand years, people will assume "George Osborne" was some sort of mythic person, honourary role, or qualification that was considered for, or made you elligible for, every senior job in early 21st century Britain.
Reposted by Matthew Coates
this 100% reads like the writer is planning to murder jonathan pryce
April 22, 2025 at 1:10 PM
this 100% reads like the writer is planning to murder jonathan pryce
Reposted by Matthew Coates
I'm sorry but it's very funny to me that the legislature of a G7/P5 country of 70 million is currently drafting the "Fuck This One Guy in Particular Act of 2026."
Also, imagine tolerating a system of privilege so entrenched you need to rewrite centuries-old rules just to get at one douchebag.
Also, imagine tolerating a system of privilege so entrenched you need to rewrite centuries-old rules just to get at one douchebag.
UK govt drafting legislation to remove Mandelson peerage, has referred information to the police www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cl...
Government refers material to police after review of Mandelson Epstein emails - live updates
PM Keir Starmer calls allegations that Lord Mandelson passed on sensitive government information to Epstein
www.bbc.co.uk
February 3, 2026 at 1:37 PM
I'm sorry but it's very funny to me that the legislature of a G7/P5 country of 70 million is currently drafting the "Fuck This One Guy in Particular Act of 2026."
Also, imagine tolerating a system of privilege so entrenched you need to rewrite centuries-old rules just to get at one douchebag.
Also, imagine tolerating a system of privilege so entrenched you need to rewrite centuries-old rules just to get at one douchebag.
His dad, who he claims to have had little connection to and uses that to justify saying he was the first in his family to attend university, had a wife who ran the NHS in a neighbouring county, is exactly the sort of strong local connection needed!
Sunday Times interview: Goodwin does set out his family connections to Manchester, which include grandparents, his Dad going to work there, studying & working there + meeting his ex-wife there too
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
February 2, 2026 at 10:16 PM
His dad, who he claims to have had little connection to and uses that to justify saying he was the first in his family to attend university, had a wife who ran the NHS in a neighbouring county, is exactly the sort of strong local connection needed!
Reposted by Matthew Coates
this is true but on the other hand the MONIAC is so, so fucking cool
February 2, 2026 at 9:28 PM
this is true but on the other hand the MONIAC is so, so fucking cool
In honor of Groundhog Day, here are some marmots I saw last year. Firstly one of the many Groundhogs I saw at Magee Marsh, Ohio, secondly two (again of the many) Yellow-Bellied Marmots I saw in Yosemite
February 2, 2026 at 4:48 PM
In honor of Groundhog Day, here are some marmots I saw last year. Firstly one of the many Groundhogs I saw at Magee Marsh, Ohio, secondly two (again of the many) Yellow-Bellied Marmots I saw in Yosemite
Reposted by Matthew Coates
much is made of "meat's back on the menu boys" but personally I'm quite compelled by the Uruk Hai complaining about days-old bread, man's been alive for at most two weeks, was grown from some revolting fleshy underground alien womb and already he yearns for a warm baguette
January 28, 2026 at 10:16 PM
much is made of "meat's back on the menu boys" but personally I'm quite compelled by the Uruk Hai complaining about days-old bread, man's been alive for at most two weeks, was grown from some revolting fleshy underground alien womb and already he yearns for a warm baguette
Reposted by Matthew Coates
"I'm looking for a house that combines neoclassical aesthetics with the feel of a basement nightclub in Mykonos"
"sir we have just the thing" www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/1...
"sir we have just the thing" www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/1...
January 28, 2026 at 4:37 PM
"I'm looking for a house that combines neoclassical aesthetics with the feel of a basement nightclub in Mykonos"
"sir we have just the thing" www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/1...
"sir we have just the thing" www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/1...